Near Appling, Georgia, RV campgrounds surround Thurmond Lake, a 71,000-acre reservoir built by the Army Corps of Engineers with 1,200 miles of shoreline. The region sits at around 330 feet elevation with mild winters and hot, humid summers that typically reach the 90s. Summer rainfall averages 3-4 inches per month, making waterproof gear essential during camping stays.
What to do
Kayaking access points: Petersburg Campground offers direct water access from most sites. "Access to sites are easy. Almost all are pull through. They're also pretty well spaced out for privacy and plenty of space for each site," notes Alex C., highlighting the convenience for water activities.
Hiking on Bartram Trail: The 20+ mile trail system runs directly through Petersburg Campground. One camper mentions, "Bartram Trail, terrific mountain for biking and hiking passes through the property," making it ideal for day hikes without driving elsewhere.
Mountain biking opportunities: Trails branch out in multiple directions from the campground entrance. Christina shares, "Mountain bike trails in either direction just at the park entrance. Our site like most was right on the lake, and because we were out on more of a peninsula had great sunsets."
Canal tours in Augusta: Located 30 minutes from Appling RV parks, the Augusta Canal offers narrated boat tours. "Would highly recommend visiting the U.S Army Signal Corps Museum at Fort Gordon and the Augusta Canal National Heritage Area Interpretive Center downtown. We also did a narrated canal boat tour which was very informative and entertaining," writes Nancy about activities while staying at Heritage RV Park.
What campers like
Waterfront access: Hamilton Branch State Park Campground provides shoreline camping on all sites. "Every site is waterfront and most of them are well shaded. Bathhouses are always clean and well maintained throughout our stays," explains Kim H. about the park's layout.
Privacy between sites: Many campers appreciate the spacing between sites at Hamilton Branch. "The sites were private and clean. Everything was great," shares Jill about her experience with a small teardrop camper.
Peninsula locations: Some of the most coveted spots at Pointes West Army Resort are on small peninsulas. Jason L. notes, "Sites L, M, and N are all on a little peninsula that sticks out into Clarks Hill Lake, and are our personal favorites!"
Night sky viewing: The limited light pollution creates excellent stargazing conditions. One camper at Petersburg described, "magnificent views nearly all of them lakeside, spacious sites, picnic tables, firepits, dark starry night skies, power and water hookups."
What you should know
Seasonal water levels: The lake's water level fluctuates seasonally, affecting shoreline access. Sarah observed at Hamilton Branch, "The water was low during our trip so the immediate shoreline was a bit squishy going through the damp clay. I'd recommend water shoes."
Ant problems: Multiple campgrounds report ant issues, especially in summer months. "Prepare your site for ants they will get into everything if not," warns Swain K. about Hamilton Branch. Similarly, at Pointes West Army Resort, Scott M. notes, "Ants can be a huge problem though during the summer."
Site surface variations: Several RV campgrounds in Appling have different pad surfaces. Andrew L. noted about Heritage RV Park, "The pads for the back in smaller campers were sandy with a concrete pad next to it.
